Its been a while since I wrote a blog post, but I felt I'd share this. I finally got off my ass and filled out all my IMDb credits.

I'll take any and all questions about visual effects, the film industry as I know it, and maybe some wisdom on life.

Cool stuff man! I don't have any questions to ask, but it's cool to know there's someone in that industry on here.

What is the meaning of life?

Very cool, dude! Out of curiosity, what exactly was it you did with Sucker Punch, Knight and Day, and Alice in Wonderland?

@Afroman269 said:

What is the meaning of life?

Not spending your whole life working. I think.

@SpencerTucksen said:

Very cool, dude! Out of curiosity, what exactly was it you did with Sucker Punch, Knight and Day, and Alice in Wonderland?

Sucker Punch: I did match moving on the church yard battle scene

Knight and Day: Digital compositing (wire removal, screen replacement), Match moving, modeling and lighting

Alice in Wonderland: Lead match move (at my studio) for stereo conversion.

you're too cool for us

Honest question, duders and do not take this as a slight towards your person; but did you actually like any of the movies you worked on? They were all quite bad, though they certainly looked good.

Edit: Also, why is american beer like making love in a canoe?

What is the most difficult visual effect procedure?

@Do_The_Manta_Ray said:

Honest question, duders and do not take this as a slight towards your person; but did you actually like any of the movies you worked on? They were all quite bad, though they certainly looked good.

Edit: Also, why is american beer like making love in a canoe?

To be fair, the visual effects are the most redeeming quality of most of those movies, so dude did his job.

Also are you going to tell me that G-Force was not a wonder of modern story telling?!

@Do_The_Manta_Ray said:

Honest question, duders and do not take this as a slight towards your person; but did you actually like any of the movies you worked on? They were all quite bad, though they certainly looked good.

Edit: Also, why is american beer like making love in a canoe?

Honestly, I almost never watch any of the films I work on. There is usually to many negative memories of long days, longer nights, and frayed nerves. I'd rather watch an indie film with zero vfx.

I have no idea how to compare American beer to a canoe other than both are fucking awesome.

@OllyOxenFree said:

What is the most difficult visual effect procedure?

Particle effects by far. Its a bitch to simulate 100 million particles only to learn they want to change the wind turbulence by .25!

..... I liked alice in wonderland

okay I can tolerate watching alice in wonderland

well it wasn't complete shit at the very least

@mazik765 said:

@Do_The_Manta_Ray said:

Honest question, duders and do not take this as a slight towards your person; but did you actually like any of the movies you worked on? They were all quite bad, though they certainly looked good.

Edit: Also, why is american beer like making love in a canoe?

To be fair, the visual effects are the most redeeming quality of most of those movies, so dude did his job.

Also are you going to tell me that G-Force was not a wonder of modern story telling?!

True, G-force wasn't destined to be a classic. I got to work on the stereo conversion, well before all that work got shipped to India.

Do you watch the classic movies from the golden era? I watch a lot of Turner Classic Movies.

Do you like what you do and what does it take to do it?

@Claude said:

Do you watch the classic movies from the golden era? I watch a lot of Turner Classic Movies.

Man, I have so much respect for classic special effects. Most modern Hollywood films whore out the CGI to the point it ruins the film (starwars, Indy4, Transformers...etc). Story should always be the most important part of any movie.

That's pretty cool.

@FluxWaveZ said:

Do you like what you do and what does it take to do it?

I like what I do, but I don't like what it takes to do it. On knight and Day, I worked 40 days in a row, 12-16 hours a day. On Oz: the great and Powerful I operated a LiDar scanner on set for about a month working 12+ hours a day at odd hours. In the process, I got divorced and alienated friends, lost time with family. In short, work is work, but never forget life is more important. If you want to get into this industry, prepare to make a lot of sacrifices.

Cool.

So...can you give me a heads-up on whether that Oz movie is going to be worth a damn or not? I have a strong affinity for the Oz mythos, and I need to know whether I should waste my time or not.

Damn you're famous.

@jakob187 said:

Cool.

So...can you give me a heads-up on whether that Oz movie is going to be worth a damn or not? I have a strong affinity for the Oz mythos, and I need to know whether I should waste my time or not.

I can't say much other than several people involved with Art design and visual effects are Oscar winners. Trust me, this one is going to be a trip. I can't vouch for acting.

If you make a lot of money...can you share some? You know, like spread the wealth and all that stuff.

So, you're a light technician or something like that? What kind of digital art did you do for Machine Gun Preacher and Hugo?

Is Oz: The Great and Powerful going to be a kiddy movie or is going to be kind of like the new Alice in Wonderland?

@jakob187 said:

Cool.

So...can you give me a heads-up on whether that Oz movie is going to be worth a damn or not? I have a strong affinity for the Oz mythos, and I need to know whether I should waste my time or not.

Same here. I hope it's kind of along the lines of Alice in Wonderland (Tim Burton version).

You worked on Sucker Punch? Euuugh...I mean it's not your fault, the effects were kinda cool but...euuuugh!

@super_machine said:

@Claude said:

Do you watch the classic movies from the golden era? I watch a lot of Turner Classic Movies.

Man, I have so much respect for classic special effects. Most modern Hollywood films whore out the CGI to the point it ruins the film (starwars, Indy4, Transformers...etc). Story should always be the most important part of any movie.

I take it you're a Ray Harryhausen fan then? If so, we're kindred spirits.

@super_machine: Excuse my ignorance but what is "match moving"?

Also, that is pretty cool, especially since I loved Alice in Wonderland. :D

And I want to see Machine Gun Preacher O_o .

What kind of movies (genre) do you like most? (I saw you said independent but can you name any of your favorite independent movies?)

@Still_I_Cry said:

@super_machine: Excuse my ignorance but what is "match moving"?

Also, that is pretty cool, especially since I loved Alice in Wonderland. :D

And I want to see Machine Gun Preacher O_o .

What kind of movies (genre) do you like most? (I saw you said independent but can you name any of your favorite independent movies?)

Match move (also known as camera tracking) is the process of establishing a spacial coordinate system for CGI work by placing points onto a sequence of frames and have it processed through dedicated software. It is used for VFX to re-create the physical camera movement in a virtual 3D space. Anything shot on a green screen, or live action with CGI mixed in has to be match moved as the first step. When the camera is moving on a dolly or mounted on a handheld rig, the software will analyze the distance between points, speed of paralax between points, and error value by pixel. Generally, if there is enough data to solve the camera movement it will also generate an approximate focal point in your virtual camera. If not enough trackable data in the footage, your life sucks for an indeterminate amount of time. Of course there is always the factor of lens distortion, but that is another matter.

My favorite movie genre is still sci-fi, but I draw the line on films that sacrifice story for visuals.

Why weren't you credited for the first few films? Is there a certain amount of time you need to put in to e credited or what?

@Do_The_Manta_Ray: They are both f*cking close to water.

@DarthOrange said:

Why weren't you credited for the first few films? Is there a certain amount of time you need to put in to e credited or what?

The truth is most effects type movies are made by dozens of third party vendors. They get sub-contracted by larger second party studios, yet rarely do they get credits in the film. Sometimes it is a studio only credit, sometimes it goes to the individual. Its all about time and money.

Hey, I like Knight and Day!

@SpencerTucksen said:

Very cool, dude! Out of curiosity, what exactly was it you did with Sucker Punch, Knight and Day, and Alice in Wonderland?

Sucker Punch: I did match moving on the church yard battle scene

Knight and Day: Digital compositing (wire removal, screen replacement), Match moving, modeling and lighting

Alice in Wonderland: Lead match move (at my studio) for stereo conversion.

@DoctorTran said:

@super_machine

@SpencerTucksen said:

Very cool, dude! Out of curiosity, what exactly was it you did with Sucker Punch, Knight and Day, and Alice in Wonderland?

Sucker Punch: I did match moving on the church yard battle scene

Knight and Day: Digital compositing (wire removal, screen replacement), Match moving, modeling and lighting

Alice in Wonderland: Lead match move (at my studio) for stereo conversion.

What is Match Moving?

If you kept reading you would find that he explains it in a later post.

@super_machine said:

@Still_I_Cry said:

@super_machine: Excuse my ignorance but what is "match moving"?

Also, that is pretty cool, especially since I loved Alice in Wonderland. :D

And I want to see Machine Gun Preacher O_o .

What kind of movies (genre) do you like most? (I saw you said independent but can you name any of your favorite independent movies?)

Match move (also known as camera tracking) is the process of establishing a spacial coordinate system for CGI work by placing points onto a sequence of frames and have it processed through dedicated software. It is used for VFX to re-create the physical camera movement in a virtual 3D space. Anything shot on a green screen, or live action with CGI mixed in has to be match moved as the first step. When the camera is moving on a dolly or mounted on a handheld rig, the software will analyze the distance between points, speed of paralax between points, and error value by pixel. Generally, if there is enough data to solve the camera movement it will also generate an approximate focal point in your virtual camera. If not enough trackable data in the footage, your life sucks for an indeterminate amount of time. Of course there is always the factor of lens distortion, but that is another matter.

My favorite movie genre is still sci-fi, but I draw the line on films that sacrifice story for visuals.

Ah, thanks for the explanation. I suppose I could have just Googled it in hindsight..

Oh, Sci-Fi. I like some Sci-Fi sometimes :P

Have any favorite Sci-Fi movies? (Aside from possibly Alien(s))

I agree with you regarding the story vs. visuals thing.

@TeamJersey: Good man! You deserve a follow for that statement alone.

They must be lovin' you over at screened right about now. So... what famous people have you brought coffee for?! /bitter-jealousy-over-success 

What everyone wants to know, how much do you make?

@TeamJersey said:

@Do_The_Manta_Ray: They are both f*cking close to water.

If considering only mass produced beer, yes. But saying American beer is just all mass produce rice beer is like saying red is the only color in the visible spectrum. The US has enough quality micro-brew labels to fuel a drinking binge from here to eternity.

@super_machine: I understand this well and I agree, I just happened to know the punchline. I review beer on a site. There are many amazing American beers out there you just have to know where to look. Brooklyn Brewery, Dogfish Head and Real Ale Brewing Company are three of many that make high quality beer on American soil.

Inbev/Anheiser Busch, Miller and Coors are the reason this joke exists.

@super_machine: You poor deluded fool, you do not argue with Monty Python, especially not with John Cleese; did you ever see Fawlty Towers? Or are you from Barcelona? "American beer is like making love in a canoe", says the Australian, "it's fucking close to water." For what it's worth though, you need to refine your beer-drinking palette. You have not known beer if you've never leant back and sipped on a "Tyskie", or a "Jever" on bottle.

Been a few years since I last had the opportunity to enjoy good american beer, for they are quite rare and far inbetween compared to the plethora of choice you have in say, Austria or Germany, or even Poland. Europeans tend to snicker in general at the american drinking habits, prone to declaring it base and simply quite dull; it's a stereotype that, unfortunately for the american populace, has roots in the general lacking quality of US made alcoholic beverages. California can swing some decent wine, but that's about where the line is drawn.

I'm neither american, austrian, german or polish, mind; so I speak but simply of preferences made out of experience. In the end, to each their own. Still, though, the joke's a good one, and should not be argued against. Ever. Do you remember what happened to the germans when they visited Fawlty Towers? Indeed..

@Do_The_Manta_Ray said:

@super_machine: You poor deluded fool, you do not argue with Monty Python, especially not with John Cleese; did you ever see Fawlty Towers? Or are you from Barcelona? "American beer is like making love in a canoe", says the Australian, "it's fucking close to water." For what it's worth though, you need to refine your beer-drinking palette. You have not known beer if you've never leant back and sipped on a "Tyskie", or a "Jever" on bottle.

Been a few years since I last had the opportunity to enjoy good american beer, for they are quite rare and far inbetween compared to the plethora of choice you have in say, Austria or Germany, or even Poland. Europeans tend to snicker in general at the american drinking habits, prone to declaring it base and simply quite dull; it's a stereotype that, unfortunately for the american populace, has roots in the general lacking quality of US made alcoholic beverages. California can swing some decent wine, but that's about where the line is drawn.

I'm neither american, austrian, german or polish, mind; so I speak but simply of preferences made out of experience. In the end, to each their own. Still, though, the joke's a good one, and should not be argued against. Ever. Do you remember what happened to the germans when they visited Fawlty Towers? Indeed..

I spent a few weeks in Germany years ago, and I've always been looking for the real thing ever since. I fell in love with this region brew called Iserlohn. Perfection! I did not pick up on the reference :-P I'm way too serious sometimes! Where I live in the US, there is a good variety of local beer. Bell's brewing, Michigan Brewing, Dragon Mead, Arcadia, Rochester brewing...etc.

@DoctorTran said:

@super_machine

@SpencerTucksen said:

Very cool, dude! Out of curiosity, what exactly was it you did with Sucker Punch, Knight and Day, and Alice in Wonderland?

Sucker Punch: I did match moving on the church yard battle scene

Knight and Day: Digital compositing (wire removal, screen replacement), Match moving, modeling and lighting

Alice in Wonderland: Lead match move (at my studio) for stereo conversion.

What is Match Moving?

If you kept reading you would find that he explains it in a later post.

cool, never know who browse the internet. 
 
i just looked at a movie that i just saw. i didn't know that it was on the website. my friend that was in the movie weren't in the credits though.

match moving? sounds like a Prof. Layton puzzle.

@ahab88 said:

match moving? sounds like a Prof. Layton puzzle.

Indeed. Its like solving the most complex puzzle you could ever imagine!

That looks like it kind of sucks lol.

@BlinkyTM: Yeah, it can be a real bitch sometimes. lol. But, if you have the mind for this type of work, it can be really stimulating.

@super_machine said:

@BlinkyTM: Yeah, it can be a real bitch sometimes. lol. But, if you have the mind for this type of work, it can be really stimulating.

Yeah, I don't think I do. I'm kind of impatient so, I'd probably mess that up :P